Reading comprehension -TOEFL- Lesson 23
Lead poisoning in children is a major health concern. Both low and high doses of paint can have serious effects. Children exposed to high doses of lead often suffer permanent nerve damage, mental retardation, blindness, and even death. Low doses of lead can lead to mild mental retardation, short attention spans, distractibility, poor academic performance, and behavioral problems.
This is not a new concern. As early as 1904, lead poisoning in children was linked to lead-based paint. Microscopic lead particles from paint are absorbed into the bloodstream when children ingest flakes of chipped paint, plaster, or paint dust from sanding. Lead can also enter the body through household dust, nail biting, thumb sucking, or chewing on toys and other objects painted with lead-based paint. Although American paint companies today must comply with strict regulations regarding the amount of lead used in their paint, this source of lead poisoning is still the most common and most dangerous. Children living in older, dilapidated houses are particularly at risk.

1. What is the main topic of the passage?
(A) problems with household paint
(B) major health concerns for children
(C) lead poisoning in children
(D) lead paint in older homes
2. Which part of the passage discusses symptoms and consequences of lead poisoning?
(A) lines 1-4
(B) lines 4-8
(C) lines 8-10
(D) lines 10-13
3. The phrase "exposed to" in line 2 could best be replaced by which of the following?
(A) familiar with
(B) in contact with
(C) displaying
(D) conducting
4. As used in line 2, which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "suffer"?
(A) experience
(B) reveal
(C) feel pain from
(D) grieve with
5. Which of the following does the passage infer?
(A) Paint companies can no longer use lead in their paint.
(B) Paint companies aren`t required to limit the amount of lead used in their paint.
(C) Paint companies must limit the amount of lead used in their lead.
(D) Paint companies have always followed restrictions regarding the amount of lead used in their paint.
6. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase "linked to" in line 6-7?
(A) endorsed by
(B) threatened by
(C) combined with
(D) associated with
7. The word "absorbed" in line 7 could best bereplaced by
(A) fixed
(B) assimilated
(C) soaked
(D) accepted
8. In line 8, the word "ingest" could best be replaced by which of the following?
(A) inhale
(B) digest
(C) inject
(D) eat
9. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "chipped" as used in line 8?
(A) fragmented
(B) canned
(C) sprayed
(D) unhealthy
10. In line 13, the word "dilapidated" is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(A) poorly painted
(B) unpainted
(C) falled down
(D) broken down
11. According to the passage, what is the most common source of lead poisoning in children?
(A) household dust
(B) lead-based paint
(C) painted toys
(D) dilapidated houses
12. What does the author imply in the final sentence of the passage?
(A) Lead-based paint chips off more easily than newer paints.
(B) Poor people did not comply with the regulations.
(C) Old homes were painted with lead-based paint.
(D) Old homes need to be rebuilt in order to be safe for children.